Taking on the best

ºThe top high school talent, including 6 future ND players, have been invited to Nike's prestigious camp.

July 05, 2012|TYLER JAMES | South Bend Tribune

Photo provided, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

There aren't many doubters when it comes to the talent of Notre Dame linebacker commit Jaylon Smith.

So when Smith was extended an invitation to Nike Football's The Opening Camp, not many were surprised. But Smith won't be the only high school football player representing the Irish out in Beaverton, Ore., on July 5-8.

McGovern said he wasn't quite sure what to expect from the event, but he was glad to be invited as one of the top players in the country and to represent Notre Dame.

"It just demonstrates how good of a recruiting class Notre Dame has picked up this year," McGovern said. "It shows how much potential the class has while at Notre Dame."

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While each player has yet to officially start their senior season of high school football, the event offers another chance to prove the class belongs in the discussions of the top five or 10 recruiting classes in the country. Only USC, Michigan, Georgia, and Florida will have more verbal commits than Notre Dame's six at the event. USC will have the most with eight.

"Everybody says Notre Dame has to lower their standards when it comes to athletes because of the academics," Butler said. "I think with all of us going to The Opening, it shows that we have upped our standards and nothing has really fallen off. It's just been finding the right type of people. I feel like this year we have a special group. We have SEC athletes with Ivy League minds."

The 150 athletes expected at The Opening will have the chance to compete in the SPARQ Rating National Championship and then will be split up for an Elite Lineman Challenge and the Nike 7ON over the four days. Butler said he's looking to prove his ability on an individual level.

"It's a chance to compete with the best of the best on a national stage. It's just a chance to prove myself as one of the elite corners in this class," Butler said. "A lot of people have questions on whether I'm a corner or if I'm a safety. I just want to go out there and learn more about the position of corner, better my craft and translate it over to the season."

Robinson was also intrigued by the opportunity to

Want to watch?[square]ºWhat: "The Opening,'' a Nike football camp featuring some of the best high school prospects in the nation[square]ºIrish connection: Five Notre Dame recruits committed to the class of 2013 have been invited and plan to attend.[square]ºWhen: Friday, July 6: 8-9:30 p.m. EDT; Saturday, July 7: 8-10 p.m. EDT; Sunday, July 8: 8-10:30 p.m. EDT[square]ºTV: ESPNU

compare himself to some of the nation's best football prospects. Robinson may be one of Notre Dame's least heralded prospects, carrying a three-star rating overall with Rivals.com ranking him as the 73rd best WR in the country and 247Sports the 90th.

"I was speechless when I first heard," Robinson said about receiving an invitation to the event. "I just started playing football a couple of years ago, so I never expected to go this far this quickly. It was such an honor."

"I'm really excited to go up there and see the best. In my district I don't really see the best competition, but now I get a chance to go to this camp and see what the nation's best have to offer and how I match up against them. I'm really excited."

Elmer will be making his first ever trip to Oregon and will be bringing his dad and both grandpas with him. Elmer admits he has seen himself drop in some ratings by national recruiting websites and knows that a strong performance at The Opening would help boost his rating.

In February, Rivals ranked Elmer as the No. 49 player in the country. In April, CBS Sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming ranked him 74th. Since those rankings, Elmer has dropped out of Lemming's Top 100 and fallen to 107th by Rivals.

Because he already has found the school he wants to attend, Elmer's not exactly fretting over those ratings.

"That stuff is just something that I see as a tool for getting noticed. I got noticed and I got where I wanted to go," Elmer said. "It would be nice to have a good ranking. I'm still going to do my best. But it's not the most important thing in the world to me."

Onwualu will still head to The Opening despite a broken jaw that required his jaw to be wired shut two weeks ago. He's been forced to ingest most meals through liquid form and keeps working out on regular basis. At The Opening, Onwualu will sit out any contact drills, but will still take part in workouts to prove his athleticism.